Road To Leadership
From Leaderpedia
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Recently I was reminded of a conversation that took place long ago. I contacted someone to ask a few questions and ask for feedback in regard to my teaching. I began the conversation with a sincere heart, but after the conversation left in tears. I was told that I was not a "leader" because along with the person I was speaking with, a group of people had decided that I was not a leader. Yet, I still knew in my heart that God had called me as a leader. For many days, I cried many tears over the words that were spoken to me.
- When this conversation took place, behind the scenes, I was in the middle of coping emotionally with a very ill 6 year old nephew, who died 1 month following this conversation. I was also in the middle of grieving over the sudden loss of my brother-in-law a few months earlier. Although I did not realize it at the time, it was during this painful time of my life, that God was teaching me what it was like to be in the middle of my own personal pain and suffering and to be rejected as a leader and how I could damage others as a leader myself. The pain was deep and long lasting.
- Today I recall the day I made the choice to not allow the words of another person or group of people stop me from following God's path for my life as a leader. The day I made this decision, was the day a phone call came, that my nephew had breathed his last breath. It was on this day, that the opposition of a small group of people in this world who had an opinion about me in regard to leadership, no longer mattered. What mattered at this point in time was to get beyond my own pain and hurt and get in my car and be with my family.
- Why am I sharing this with you today? To encourage you as a leader, whether you are a leader who is still behind the scenes, or an emerging leader.
- Pray for God to surround you with the people who are willing to assist you in becoming all that God has called you to be as a leader.
- Ask the Lord to remove those he desires to remove from your life who are not the people he desires to coach/train/mentor you as a leader. Then most importantly when God removes them, let them go.
- When God brings others into your life and you are sure they are sent from him, let them in to your life.
- Resist the urge to find "just any leader" who has the title of leader or functions in a leadership role.
- When words of rejection come your way, (and they will come) most importantly, forgive and draw close to the savior. He is the one who will heal your heart as a leader and by forgiving, you will be able to move forward.
- Above all else saturate 1-5 in prayer.
The 5 C's of Building Healthy Leaders are;
Christ
Community
Character
Calling
Competencies
Although my story above was one of rejection and grieving, God used the situation in my life to form the 5 C's.
- Christ- Due to the ongoing pain that was from leaders around me and grieving the loss of family members, this caused me to pursue God and draw closer to him.
- Community- There were people in my community that were there for me in the midst of the pain in my life.
- Character- Although I was in pain God used this to remind me to be careful with my words.
- Calling- The ongoing situation forced me to follow the calling God placed on my life and not quit. I learned to continue to serve others in the midst of my own emotional needs.
- Competencies- I spent time in the word of God, reading and reading, praying and praying. Without realizing it, this increased my competency level in regard to biblical knowledge and understanding.
Personal Leadership Examination
Write out a time in your life when another person/leader rejected you as a leader. Once this is written out examine your story and see if the 5 C's were present in situation. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through the truth of the situation.
